EA2RN2017

I was a corporate auditor for many years and then a tax advisor. I am changing careers like you. I went back to community college for my pre reqs 10 months ago and will be attending accelerated BSN program this fall. Most hospitals are moving to BSN requirement so ADN may not cut it. MSN does not get you a boost as seems like everyone starts as RN trainee and same pay. Healthcare is a different field but I find it pretty similar to advising in that nurses are people friendly and caring and have to be organized and detail oriented. Accounting requires attention to detail as well as working with management and clients. I think it's not so polar opposite as people think. Just to ensure that healthcare is what I want to do, I started working as a clinical technician at a major hospital since December. So far, it is great and some of it is scary but hours always fly by. I am observing nurses and taking notes. Nursing is a tremendous job with long hours, physical demands and test of your compassion. You may want to consider volunteering or finding a job with a hospital to really see what nursing is like. I was looking at CRNA but decided against it as I don't want to spend hours sitting in surgery and having major professional liability insurance. I am looking at NP or PA route after BSN. Best of luck to you and me!

Hi, I am excited to start also at GMU but had the same concerns as @Kayemaech. I had a very nice orientation for admitted student day and tour of the Medstar Washington hospital for GW ABSN but I wish I could get a tour of the PW campus of GMU and talk to the students. I may drive over to the campus and look around on my own sometime next week. Who wants to go?

Congratulations on getting into a nursing program, momt5. I am also starting school late in my 40s and you got me thinking too. I have been working at the hospital as clinical technician for the last few months to get some experience. The 12.5 hour shifts especially night shifts are hard and nursing is very physical. In the Trauma unit that I am in, we have to help with bed pans and changing sheets and many of the patients are obese or in log roll situation with broken spine. It does take at least 2-3 people to roll a patient properly. I am petite at 5'3" so I use gravity (i.e., head of the bed down)to help me boost patients and use draw sheets to turn patients. I understand Diagnostic sonography is not easy on the body either as many cannot work due to carpal tunnel and pulled muscles from standing and twisting the body to get the right picture. Sounds like you are already fit so I will need to start doing weights and building my stamina in prep for nursing school. I definitely think day shift and maybe part time maybe a good option if you stay in nursing. I am hoping to continue onto advanced nurse practitioner after BSN. After RN, you can get into research, informatics and management eventually so I would probably pursue those options after few years. Best of luck to us!

Thank you for the information, greenbeen74 and others who have helped with guidance. I am fortunate to be admitted to ABSN programs at George Mason and George Washington. I only have a week to decide between the two schools. I have to pinch myself that I got admitted to two great schools and this is not a bad problem to have. The cost is pretty high for GW but I am interviewing for the W Squared program that may allow for 50% scholarship if I get offered a position. Any information on that program? George Mason was my first choice until I found out that the Nursing is in Manassas campus and not at the Fairfax Campus which is only 7 miles to my home. If CHHS at Fairfax is opening in the near future, that would be awesome.